My Friend's 1980 Citation

My best friend had a 1980 Chevrolet Citation 4-door fastback. Citations came in several other versions - among them two-door fastbacks and a four-door notchback with a conventional trunk rather than the fastback's hatch. Despite it being one of GM's much maligned "X" Cars - GM's first attempt at front-wheel drive compacts and considered the most recalled cars in all of automotive history, this sturdy little car took him through high school, college and graduate school.

His parents bought it in late 1979 for about $8,000. It was two tone cream over forest green with a green velour interior. My friend got his license 2 years later and became the exclusive driver of this car for the next 11 years. The car hardly lived a pampered life. This car made it
through several accidents and having once been stolen in Philadelphia. It was a very versatile car with a folding rear seat and removable cargo cover to give a lot of hauling space. I don't remember the car's engine displacement, but I think it was a 2.8 litre transversely mounted
in-line 4 cylinder plant. This was one tough little engine, too bad the same couldn't be said for the transaxle. I believe he replaced the transaxle no less than three times. Fortunately the car was cheap and easy to service and repairs weren't too much of a burden.

Despite the transaxle, the car was very reliable and I often borrowed it when my Cadillac was being serviced. Looking at the dashboard and other interior components of the car shows where GM cut a lot of corners. The fit and finish was rather sloppy and the quality of the materials
wouldn't be acceptable in the cheapest Korean import today. I did think the vertically mounted AM/FM radio was pretty cool. There was surprisingly a lot of room in the back seat.

The car finally gave up the ghost after my friend got his Master's degree from the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy and Science in the summer of 1992. It had racked up 195,000 miles.